School and Child Care

Compulsory education begins when children turn 5, but most children start elementary school when they are 4. Compulsory education means that children aged 5 through 18 must complete elementary school and continue their education until they have earned their basic qualification. You are free to choose which elementary school to enroll your child in.

Compulsory education

Compulsory education means that children aged 5 through 18 must complete elementary school and continue their education until they have earned a basic qualification. A basic qualification is a diploma at the HAVO, VWO, or MBO Level 2 level or higher. 

You are required to send your child to school. Schools must verify that all students are present. Unauthorized absences (keeping your child home without a valid reason) are a criminal offense. In such cases, the school must notify the municipal truancy officer. You can find more information about compulsory education on the website of the Rijksoverheid. You can also find information on the website “Opvoeden”.

Compulsory Education for Adolescents

Child Care and Child Care Allowance

Do you and your partner both work? If so, you may need childcare for your child.

Childcare allowance

The Child Care Allowance is money provided by the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration ( Rijksoverheid ) to help pay for child care. You must apply for the allowance with the Tax and Customs Administration. Do this within 3 months after your child first starts attending child care.

Does your child attend preschool? All toddler playgroups are also a daycare center. You can therefore get childcare allowance for these as well.

Childcare allowance from the municipality 

Are you receiving benefits under the Participation Act, IOAW, IOAZ, or ANW, and are you participating in a program to help you find work and/or pursue education, or taking a civic integration course? If so, you may be eligible for a subsidy from the municipality to help cover your copayment. You will receive this in addition to the child care allowance from the Tax and Customs Administration.

Child care with socio-medical indication, seek reimbursement

Do you have social or medical issues and want to send your child(ren) to daycare? And are you not receiving a childcare allowance? If so, you can apply for a social-medical determination. If you are granted this determination, we will temporarily reimburse (for up to 3 months) the costs of childcare.

More information on this topic can be found on the Child Care and Social Medical Indication (SMI) page.

Pupil Transport

Pupil transport is transportation to and from school for children with disabilities who cannot go to school by themselves. Pupil transport is for children who attend (special) primary education or (special) secondary education. But only if they cannot go to school by themselves due to their disability. 

You apply for pupil transportation at the municipality's CMD. You can read more about it at Pupil Transport.